Best Verified Racing Games On Steam Deck

The Steam Deck has a massive library of verified titles right now, and more and more big games are being added to Valve’s verified list each week. The handheld PC is becoming a popular device among gamers, allowing players to boot up and enjoy the likes of Grand Theft Auto 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on the go.

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By  Gareth Hinton

Racers have always been popular on handheld devices. Gran Turismo on the PSP was a huge hit, while Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the highest-selling game on the Switch. The Steam Deck has a great list of racing games that are well worth trying out on the impressive handheld. Here are the best racers that are verified on the Deck.

Updated January 15, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Believe it or not, Steam Deck started a new trend on handheld gaming platforms, and it is already the leader of the market when it comes to PC-based gaming experiences.

Relying on Valve's beloved market for games, Steam Deck offers support for a wide variety of games released since its launch. Being Steam Deck Verified has since become an important qualification for games launching on Steam. This badge guarantees that players will not face any issues playing the game on their handheld platform, hardware-wise.

17 Project CARS 3

Detaching From The Origins For An Arcade Approach

Project CARS 3 has no doubt had its critics since it was released into the wild back in August 2020. Many feel that the two previous versions are the better games in the series. The third Project CfARS game changed a lot that made the franchise so successful in the first place, but Project CARS 3 is still an enjoyable racing game.

Having been given the Deck’s green light of approval, Project CARS 3 runs smooth as butter with good graphics. Set to be the final Project CARS game in the series, racing enthusiasts should certainly give it a go on the Steam Deck.

16 Lego 2K Drive

Build Vehicles, Customize Them To The Teeth, And Race!

It's a shame that many racing fans aren't talking about Lego 2K Drive much. Sure, the live-service trappings and the lazy rubber banding of the AI can distract players. However, those who can ignore these issues will realize how much fun it really is to play through an imaginative arcade racer with excellent track design.

Taking shortcuts and bamboozling the opposition makes Lego 2K Drive an underrated racer that more people need to check out. Games like this are a great example of why the live service model shouldn't be slapped onto every game in sight. This label has hurt the long-term interest in this arcade racer quite a bit.

15 Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

Race At Extreme Speeds With Unique Vehicle Mechanics

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

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Racing

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7 /10

Released

October 19, 2023

Developer(s)

Milestone

Franchise

Hot Wheels

Platform(s)

PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

Genre(s)

Racing

Local Co-Op Support

1-2 Players

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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Most people were pleasantly surprised to see the wealth of quality on display in Hot Wheels Unleashed. Despite some progression issues, the game's take on toy car racing was a blast. The game's breakneck speeds can even cause these vehicles to fly off the tracks.

So, fans were interested in seeing what Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged brought to the table, and they weren't disappointed. Featuring more moves and better track design than before, the sequel to Hot Wheels Unleashed is a worthy arcade racer. It addresses a lot of issues players had in the first game and adds some interesting elements of its own to keep players engaged.

14 DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing

When Animation Heroes Take Over The Scene In Action Racing

DreamWorks is a studio that has been through its fair share of ups and downs, but there's no denying that the characters from their movies are iconic. So, the idea of playing a kart racing game featuring many beloved characters from their films is quite engrossing.

DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing has its fair share of issues, but fans of this studio's work will be able to ignore the vast majority of these problems. The racing is simple and engaging, which is great for players who want to enjoy a title that doesn't feature too many complicated mechanics.

13 Automobilista 2

A Realistic Racing Experience Covering A Wide Variety Of Segments

• Developer: Reiza Studios
• Release Date: March 31, 2020
• Platform: PC

Since its release on Steam in 2020, Automobilista 2 has received good scores from critics and high ratings among players. Earlier in 2022, this solid racing sim, which is also great in Virtual Reality, was given the Steam Deck’s green light of approval, making this a great game to play on handheld devices.

Automobilista 2 is renowned for having excellent graphics, and the frame rate on the Steam Deck can be cranked up to 60fps with few to no issues. Even serious sim racers can enjoy Automobilista 2 on Valve’s impressive handheld system.

12 Inertial Drift

Introducing A Fun New Handling System For Drifters

There aren't many arcade racing games out there, and players will take what they can get at this point. However, it's not necessary to lower one's standards to check out such a racing game. Inertial Drift completely changes the mechanics of how a race works to make for a truly breathtaking time.

Using two analog sticks to control a car in a race was simply unheard of before this title came into the fray. More racing fans need to check out Inertial Drift and understand what makes it such a special indie gem and the Steam Deck is a great platform to let this game shine.

11 Dirt 5

An Arcade Approach To Circuit-Based Rally Races

When the Steam Deck became available to order, Dirt 5 was added to its verified list right away. This arcade racer is unique and is not for everyone, but the tracks and the cars look stunning. The Dirt 5 entry into the Dirt franchise is a lot of fun to play and will provide endless hours of thrills and spills.

Dirt 5 stepped away from the usual simulation of rally driving, making this version a pick-up-and-play type of game for players new to the genre. There are a whole host of verified racers to play on the Steam Deck, and Dirt 5 should be right at the top of the list.

10 Euro Truck Simulator 2

The Ultimate Trucker Experience With A Massive Open World

While not a racing game per se, Euro Truck Simulator 2 has one of the most realistic driving models in any title. The aim of the game is to be methodical and take things so, taking the edge off for players as they course through urban landscapes, green countrysides, and anything else along the same lines.

The game may not seem all that interesting at first glance, but players even remotely interested should jump in and give this title a shot. If the experience clicks with them, then they'll be completely glued to their screens as the hours fly by!

9 F1 22

A Racing Experience For Dedicated Competitive Players

Although F1 24 is already out, the latest game in the franchise that is verified for Steam Deck is F1 22, which is another extremely solid entry in Codemaster’s Formula One franchise. It is a gorgeous game, with cars and circuits that look as close to real life as fans have ever seen before. F1 22 added F1 Life mode and the ability to crossplay in the multiplayer section.

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By  Ritwik Mitra

We have seen F1 titles on handhelds before, but never as polished as F1 22. Players can enjoy this excellent racing game at 60fps with good graphics. Lower the frame rate and F1 fans will get an even better experience. This terrific racer is well worth owning on the Deck.

8 Asphalt Legends Unite

A Free Arcade Racing With Lightning Fast Speeds

What makes Asphalt Legends Unite stand out from all the other games listed here is the fact that it is free-to-play. The game is a massive visual leap over the mobile-only Asphalt entries, and it comes with a huge number of cars that can be purchased with in-game progress.

The game focuses on circuit-based races rather than being an open world, but the multiplayer section is quite fun and challenging, as players try to win and rank up. However, keep in mind that the monetization model does include some pay-to-win elements, which allows some players to upgrade their vehicles earlier than others.